xl_rage

Place: Baneshwar
Nearest town: Pune
Distance: 35Kms from Pune
Attractions: Temple, Waterfall, beautiful scenery

This is a delayed post. We had gone to Baneshwar on the holiday of Ganpati Visarjan. Basically we were in need of a nearby destination to visit, as we were also interested in the Ganpati Visarjan Procession in the evening. So we chose this spot just 35 Kms away from Pune.


We set out for Baneshwar at around 0800 Hrs in the morning. The road was fresh in our minds, we had treaded this path on our previous trip to Sajjangad just a couple of weeks back. As the name suggests, (Ban-Jungle, Ishwar-God) Baneshwar is a temple of Lord Shiva, situated in the green plush trees. Behind the temple you can see a waterfall just at half a kilometre distance. So the agenda was quite moderate.


This time I could take photos of ST buses near Katraj tunnel. It has been my fetish for a while now. I like to take snaps of the red coloured Maharashtra state transport buses. It’s the idea that these buses ply to each and every village which has a road fascinates me. Those guys take on the hardest roads at horrible hours of the day. Arguably that’s the only thing connecting Maharashtra as a whole.


Anyhow, we reached the destination in an hour of so, excluding the breakfast break. After the temple visit, we moved on to the interesting item of the programme, the waterfall. Though appears otherwise, the waterfall is dangerous. The roaring jets of water mean strict business. There is no way to go underneath it, like we did in Tamhini, but the view was amazing. We shot a few snaps there and then we realised that the waterfall would look more mesmerising from the other side of the bank.


Thinking that we would cross the river from the top before the waterfall, we set our foot in water. The water was shallower there. Just as I set foot in it, apart from its coldness one other thing concerned me, the algae and moss covered riverbed. The water currents were strong and we could not independently try to pass the river, with that moss present all over. That was a tricky situation. Then we thought of holding each others hands to pass through. Few of us were already petrified and wished to be left on the safe side of the bank. So at the end there were four of us, who started the crossing.


I entered the water and soon we all were moving steadily but at a snails pace. There was a local villager standing nearby, laughing at our despair. Soon he felt pity on our condition and he came over walking over that moss, like you would walk in the sunny meadows. Astonished as I was, I involuntarily allowed him to guide us through it.


At the end of it, we were safe on the other side. Hardly wet (we had anticipated at least one fall, owing it to the algae). So we thanked him and then saw the splendid sight, now with the elated soul, out of a successful voyage. We clicked a few snaps there, and returned. This time independently.


The place is worth going in Monsoons and a month after that. Once the river goes dry there is no point going there, unless you are a pilgrim of Lord Shiva. So buckle up your shoes. Rev-up your engines. Have a great time.


P.S. : I have not got snaps as of yet. Whenever possible will post ‘em.

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Aryan

Topic Approved.

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...in search of that perfect world - My Travel Blog :)

Nitin_traveller

lovely place
but As mentioned, the place is almost dry now ..
visited last month and left within 15 minute..

animeher

I thought this would be a great time to visit Baneshwar, after the rains n all. Is it worth visiting, xl_rage? And how much time should be kept aside?

Nitin_traveller

I MEAN, I VISITED LAST WEEK..
Sorry for the type.

it is exactly 35 KM from Chandni chok, pune while traveling towards bangalore.. village Nersapur i guess.. right hand turn.
it's before the turn for balaji mandir.